Satisfy Your Sweet Tooth This Holiday Season with P.F. Chang's!

*This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of P.F. Changs for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

You know what I've been craving lately? Some warm, comforting Asian food. Some cold winter days just call for Asian food. Am I right or am I right? Notice I didn't give you the option that I'm wrong.

P.F. Chang’s is a modern restaurant with an Asian and American inspired menu from your typical classics to seasonal dishes. They serve it all... appetizers, main dishes, desserts, and drinks! Every time I've been, I've HAD to order the Chang's Chicken Lettuce Wraps. I remember doubting how good a lettuce wrap could be. I doubt no more. It's my favorite thing on their menu that I've tried... so far. And you can't go wrong with their Crab Wontons!

I'll never forget the time a big group of my female coworkers dined at P.F. Chang's, and my bestie wanted to order a plain piece of chicken and fries. Silly lady. P.F. Chang's is NOT the place for boring plain chicken and soggy fries. It's so much more than that. It's an experience.

This holiday season, P.F. Chang's is offering delicious new menu items: handmade dessert wontons – Chocolate Raspberry Wontons, and Sweet Vanilla Cheese Wontons.
 




And two new handcrafted holiday beverages – Peppermint Mocha Cappuccino, and Vanilla Bean Bourbon Milkshake. And by beverages I do mean alcoholic beverages  :)




I would try both dessert wontons for sure! I'm not much of a peppermint fan, but that vanilla bean bourbon milkshake sounds perfect! You had me at bourbon. What a way to round out a tasty meal!

So now maybe you've got some Christmas spending money, maybe even a gift card to P.F. Chang's... if so now would be a great time to stop in to try out their holiday menu items. You'd really hate to miss out on the chance to try those dessert wontons and holiday beverages! Maybe I'll see you there :)

What holiday dessert and beverage are you most excited to try?

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Happy holidays, friends! 


Peace, and bacon grease!

Foodie Gift Guide

Ok, if any of you are like me or my fiancee, you still have some last-minute Christmas shopping to do. For those of you who are all finished.... I like to call you overachievers! :) Or am I an underachiever? 

Anyway, if you're looking for some last-minute Christmas gifts for the foodie in your life, look no further! Here's a not-even-close-to-complete gift guide for foodies. They'll love you long time.

I LOVE Sur la Table. Could spend HOURS in that place. No lie. I love this Stainless-Steel Ice Cream Scoop.







































Wooden salad bowl and hands.

























Foodie iphone cases. 






 








 







 

Foodie props! Like pretty straws and cupcake liners.

 


































































Best Ever Cupcake Icing Kit.






































  
Slate Cheese Board.

Le Creuset Dutch Oven or anything Le Creuset really. 

Unbreakable Drinking Ware. 







 






















Wilton's Deluxe Tip Set and Master Tip Set.

 



































Joseph Joseph nesting mixing bowls.

Beer Tasting Glass Set. 

Keurig Single Cup Brewer.

Kitchenaid Blender and Slow Cooker.

 

 







  

Fancy measuring spoons.

  

Chalkboard Spice Jars.

Macarons!

 














  

Gary Poppins popcorn. My faves are the Cheddar (so cheesy!), White Cheddar Jalapeno, Cheddar Bacon Ranch, and Chocolate Oreo. 






















  
Hickory Farms sausage and cheese gift set.

 








Lindt Gourmet Chocolate Bars. I especially love their Hello My Name Is Bars.

 


























Chuao Chocolatier Milk Chocolate Candy Bars.

And of course... cookbooks written by food bloggers! (from top right to left)

The Recipe Girl Cookbook, by RecipeGirl.

The Pioneer Woman Cooks: A Year of Holidays, by The Pioneer Woman Cooks.

Plate to Pixel: Digital Food Photography & Styling, by Tartelette.

Steamy Kitchen Cookbook: 101 Asian Recipes Simple Enough for Tonight's Dinner, by Steamy Kitchen.

The Picky Palate Cookbook, by Picky Palate.

The Craft Beer Cookbook, by The Beeroness.

The Smitten Kitchen Cookbook, by Smitten Kitchen.

Joy the Baker Cookbook, by Joy the Baker.

Absolutely Avocados, by What's Gaby Cooking.

Sally's Baking Addiction, by Sally's Baking Addiction.

  

Savory Sweet Life: 100 Simply Delicious Recipes for Every Family Occasion, by Savory Sweet Life.

Breakfast for Dinner, by Love & Olive Oil.

  
Our Best Bites: Mormon Moms in the Kitchen, and Savoring the Seasons With Our Best Bites, by Our Best Bites.

Six Sisters' Stuff: Family Recipes, Fun Crafts, and So Much More, by Six Sisters' Stuff.
  
Lick the Bowl Good: Classic Home-Style Desserts with a Twist, by Lick the Bowl Good.

The New Southwest, by Scarletta Bakes, which I've reviewed on the blog.


Happy shopping!


Peace, and bacon grease!

Obsessions + Confessions

I've missed you!!!!

I apologize about the lack of recipes this year month. It's the end of the fall semester, PLUS I started two new Saturday classes at the end of November. So wrong! You think you're done with the semester, but then 2 new classes sneak up on you like BAM! No break for you! But I do get a nice little holiday break from school. I'll take it :)

Time for some of my current obsessions + confessions.

This outfit. Plus her new show, Courtney Loves Dallas. Reality TV about a fashion blogger? From a show I used to watch? I'm in.

These Snowman Milk Bottles are THE cutest!

I'll admit it. I'm such a Taylor Swift fan. She's adorable guys! And I love her songs. I like to think if we hung out we'd be BFFs and cook together and play hopscotch on her rug and dance and dance and dance until we can't dance no mo. 

This nail polish would be the perfect last-minute Christmas present for the girlies in your life!

I've never eaten one, but I have an unhealthy obsession with macarons and their cuteness. I mean come on guys, Penguin Macarons with Eggnog Ganache? I get it. You're now also obsessed with macarons and their cuteness.

And while we're talking macarons, how about these White Chocolate Ganache Filled Gingerbread Macarons? 

The perfect holiday treat. Bourbon + sugar + pecans. Did I mention bourbon?

Another holiday treat - these Meringue Acorns with Salted Pistachios and Chocolate are so creative and pretty! 

This Apricot Orange Twisted Coffee Cake would be the perfect Christmas morning breakfast for your family.

You know those round butter cookies that come in those blue tins and only appear in stores at Christmas time? I love those cookies! These remind me of those, but with rosemary. All sorts of right.

2 of my fave things - salted caramel + egg nog! Win + win.

Add this cookie to your holiday tray. Nutella + sea salt + brown butter... these could quite possibly be the best cookies of all time. 

How are you guys on Christmas shopping? Done? Almost done? Haven't started? I hate leaving mine to the last minute. I have about half done but am feeling the pressure! PJ cracks me up... he usually goes on Christmas eve and buys all of my presents (he's so busy at work in December so doesn't have time earlier than that, and I buy for his side of the family) and gets it all done the day before Christmas. Boys!

Come back soon for a post about last-minute gift ideas for the foodie in your life.

Peace, and bacon grease!

 

Obsessions + Confessions

Obsessions + Confessions time!!!

Did you all have fantastic Thanksgivings? I did, I did! Busy, but fantastic. We spent Thanksgiving day eating yummy food at my mama's house. Then Friday I met up with some grade school friends :) Always fun. Saturday we had another Thanksgiving dinner at PJ's mom's house. Again, yum. She's the best cook! Sunday I made my own little Thanksgiving dinner of Roasted Turkey Breast, Creamy Cranberry Salad, Stuffing Muffins, and No-Drippings Onion Gravy. It all turned out delicious! I wish I had gotten better pics. Maybe I'll post recipes next Thanksgiving :)

Are you still in turkey mode? Have some leftover turkey in the freezer? Get your turkey AND pumpkin fix with these Turkey Melts with Caramelized Onions and Spicy Pumpkin Mayo. 

Caramelized Onions, mushrooms, apples, and gruyere cheese all in one bite? Ok maybe two. Sold. 

Not quite ready to let go of fall yet, especially with these Mini Caramel Apple Pies. 

Ever since a coworker let me try some straight-from-KY Apple Pie Moonshine, I've loved all apple-flavored alcoholic beverages, including my current fave beer, Angry Orchard  Ciders. These homemade Apple Spice Cocktails? Yessssss.

Apparently I'm really feelin caramel apple right now. Doesn't the photo for these No Bake Salted Caramel Apple Cheesecake in a Jar make you wanna lick your screen?? 

How can you make a pound cake even better? Add apple bits to the batter and then drench it in caramel. Ok done.

Ok, one more before I switch to Christmas mode. This Harvest Cobb Salad is everything.

Time for Christmas! I love these Rosemary Wreath Place Cards for your holiday parties and gatherings! So creative.

Is this real life right now? Crusted baked cheese as a pizza crust??!?! Topped with shrimp and mushrooms?!?! This can't be real life.

This Cheesy Biscuit Topped Chicken Pot Pie is the perfect comfort food and definitely going on a dinner plan soon.

I'm praying for lots of snow so my Saturday classes get canceled. Don't judge me!  

R.I.P. Nelson Mandela! May your message live on.

Peace, and bacon grease!

Happy Thanksgiving!

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Happy Thanksgiving! 

Hope you all have the time of your lives spending the holiday with family and eating turkey and stuffing and all things Thanksgiving. 

Be thankful!!!!

Peace, and bacon grease!

Crockpot Cranberry Sauce with Apple, Orange & Crystallized Ginger

Happy Thanksgiving!

I know you all are probably with your families and friends eating delicious turkey and watching parades, but I've got a recipe I wanted to share with you.
 
Today I'm sharing a trusty, easy, leave-it-to-the-slow-cooker cranberry sauce recipe.

You're already busy enough on Thanksgiving day, right? Why add to the stress when you can let your crockpot do the work on this delicious Thanksgiving side item?!

And it's fancy because it has apples in it, along with a hint of orange and ginger. Sounds good, eh? Well, it is!






Crockpot Cranberry Sauce with Apple, Orange & Crystallized Ginger
from Cookin Canuck

• 4 medium Gala apples, peeled, cored, quartered & sliced
• 1 (12 oz) package fresh cranberries
• 5 tablespoon brown sugar (or more to taste)
• 1 teaspoon grated orange zest
• 1/4 cup fresh orange juice
• 1/4 cup chopped crystallized ginger

Place all of the apple pieces and cranberries in a large bowl and stir in brown sugar and orange zest.

Pour orange juice into the bottom of a large crockpot and add the apple mixture.

Cover, turn the crockpot setting to low, and cook for about 8 hours, stirring occasionally and breaking up the apple slices and cranberries with a wooden spoon as they soften.

Stir in crystallized ginger. Taste and add an additional tablespoon or two of brown sugar if too tart.

Serve warm or room temperature.


Printable Recipe

 

Perfect alongside some succulent turkey, gravy, and stuffing. Also perfect for leftover casseroles and sandwiches. Let's just say it's perfect.

Have a happy happy Thanksgiving! 

Are you guys braving the Black Friday shopping?? I'm contemplating it... 


Peace, and bacon grease!

 

Mashed Potatoes with Bacon and Caramelized Onions

Thanksgiving is in the air!

 

































With only a couple of days until Thanksgiving, of course I had to post some last-minute Thanksgiving recipes! You know me. Queen of procrastination. 


Well, at least I'm bringing you potatoes. BACON and potatoes. CARMELIZED ONIONS and BACON and potatoes. Sorry I'm not screaming at you. I'm just really excited about bacon and caramelized onions.

The world is complete.

Potatoes, bacon, and caramelized onions are just a few of the things I'm thankful for in my life.

Along with my sweet fiance who I love spending everyday with, my amazing, strong mother, my doting father, my goofy brother, my beautiful niece, my cute chubby cat Romeo, all of my friends, my cozy home, my education, my job. And of course food in general.  

I mean, food is one of the few things I look forward to everyday. You too? I wake up thinking about what's for breakfast, after I eat breakfast I'm thinking about lunch, and after lunch I'm already daydreaming about dinner.

Food DEFINITELY goes on that list of things I'm thankful for. As do these Mashed Potatoes with Bacon and Caramelized Onions.

 

Mashed Potatoes with Bacon and Caramelized Onions
from Cookin Canuck

*Serves 4-6

• 3 strips of bacon
• 1 teaspoon olive oil
• 2 medium yellow onions, thinly sliced
• 1 tablespoon fresh sage, minced
• 2 lbs Yukon gold potatoes, peeled and cut into 3/4-inch cubes
• 1 and 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, divided
• 2/3 cup milk
• 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper 

Place the bacon in a large skillet set over medium heat. Cook the bacon until it is golden brown and crispy. Transfer to a paper towel to drain. Crumble and set aside. Discard all but 1 teaspoon of the bacon fat. Add the olive to the bacon fat and set the skillet over medium heat.

Add the onions and cook and cook until the onions are golden brown, stirring occasionally. Add the fresh sage and cook for 1 more minute.

Place cubed potatoes in a large saucepan and cover potatoes with cold water. Add 1 teaspoon kosher salt and set saucepan over high heat. Bring to a boil and cook until potatoes are tender when pierced with a fork, about 15 minutes. Drain potatoes, return to saucepan and set over medium heat, stir the potatoes until dry, 1 to 2 minutes. Remove from the heat and cover to keep potatoes warm.

In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine milk, butter, remaining salt and freshly ground black pepper. Stir occasionally until butter is melted. Reduce heat to low. Using a heat-proof rubber spatula, stir the potatoes into the milk mixture, mashing until completely combined. Stir the caramelized onions and bacon into the mashed potatoes. Taste and add additional salt and pepper if necessary.


Printable Recipe


































 

It's easy to forget that we really are blessed. AMERICA, we are blessed! With the people in our lives, the things, the food. So many blessings.

Let's cherish them and be thankful. Today. And everyday.


Peace, and bacon grease!

Obsessions + Confessions

Time for my current obsessions! Plus any confessions that I must share with you!

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I die for short ribs. 

Cancersucks. Love doesn't. 

Is there anything more beautiful than this glorious Oreo Fudge Cheesecake? Nope, nada. 

I'm not usually a meatloaf person, but Buffalo Chicken Meatloaf? Heck yeah!

Chris is the grill master, he can even grill a Thanksgiving turkey!

The most beautiful apple pie I've ever seen. 

Fried chicken-scented candles? Lord have mercy yesssssss. 

Fall will be over soon. So I'm cramming in all things pumpkin while I can! Savory and sweet pumpkin recipes!! Ever since we made these yum-yum Savory Baked Pumpkin Flautas, I have a whole new outlook on the use of pumpkin in recipes!

• No-Bake Mini Pumpkin Cheesecakes 
• Mini Pumpkin Pasta Bake with Crispy Bacon and Fresh Herbs
• Pumpkin Cheesecake Cupcakes
• Honey Pumpkin Biscuits
• Chocolate Pumpkin Peanut Butter Cups
• Pumpkin Naan Pizza with Gruyere & Fresh Herbs

Fall also means sweet potatoes. These Pulled Pork Stuffed Sweet Potatoes look so good and filling enough to be its own meal! 

And these Sweet Potato Fries with Andouille Gravy and Pimento Cheese. Insane.

Thanksgiving is quickly approaching! What are you guys making? How about a Blue Cheese Tart with Cranberry Chutney?

Grad school is no joke. Not only am I always tired, stressed, and have no time for things I enjoy like blogging, I also am making less money because I have to work less at my job, and more at my intern site where I MAKE NO MONEY! What is with this rule that interns don't make money?! Hello, we work our butts off. I feel like I'm working the hardest I have in awhile (ever?) and not getting paid for it majorly sucks. I just keep telling myself this will be over in a year or so and just have to hope that it will all be worth the struggle in the end.

I'm starting a new set of classes tomorrow morning. Yep, Saturday. That's another reason grad school sucks. Classes all day on Saturdays. Saturdays should only be for shopping, relaxing, drinking, and other fun things.

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That's all for now!

Hopefully I'll be back soon with some recipes :)

Peace, and bacon grease!